To expect food to last longer than this?

[Selfishnelv]

Hi so I very stupidly did a big big shop about 10 days ago. I thought all non perishables would last at least 3 weeks.

I spent around £300 on meat, drinks, frozen fruit, cheese, bagels, popcorn, crisps, yoghurts all other toiletries. I’ve got two pre teens who only eat this stuff in my house currently. It’s all bloody gone. 10 days in. We literally have not even a banana left. How do people afford this? In between this we’ve been out and eaten out. They’re bottomless pits

Well they'll have to do without crisps, popcorn, yogurts and drinks for the next 10 days then won't they? You'll have a tap if they're thirsty.

Maybe stretch to some bananas, peanut butter and basic bread if you genuinely think they might go hungry.

Otherwise, probably need to have a conversation with them about money, budgets, snacking not being school holiday entertainment and how long things need to last because there won't be any more until X date.

Are they bored? Mine want to snack more when they’re bored.

Are they snacking rather than eating family meals?

Children do need to eat a lot when they're growing and using lots of energy, combined with boredom snacking because it's the holidays. Which side is it more? Do they eat enough at mealtimes to properly fill up, and plenty of protein to make them feel full for longer? If they're hunting around for snacks less than an hour after a meal, then they can't have been actually full up. Are they drinking enough so it's not thirst disguised as hunger?

If you need cheap snacks to help fill empty-legged growing children: don't go for too many of the branded appealing but empty calorie snacks like biscuits and crisps. If they like them things like hard boiled eggs are better as they're a decent whack of protein, eggs are cheap when bought in large boxes, you can hard boil and bunch and they'll keep for a week in the fridge. Or apple slices and peanut butter, or apple and a chunk of cheese. Or cheese and crackers, crudite/veg sticks. Plain yoghurt with a drizzle of honey and some fruit or seeds. Bit more effort but porridge costs pence. You can again make a big batch and whack a spoonful in a bowl with a splash of milk and re-heat in the microwave.

To help reduce perpetual snacking you could try doing a filling old-fashioned pudding after a meal, like a crumble and custard. Anyone who eats a main meal followed by a portion of crumble surely isn't roving for snacks anytime soon!

How many people is that £300 feeding?

I would do smaller, weekly shops and once it's gone, it's gone. If they want more food, they'll need to go and buy it themselves.

They probably are bored. I’m working from home and have had to leave them to their own devices pretty much. I’be tried to take them out here and there but it’s really hard to juggle it all.

They also eat family meals too. I usually do bigger portions and freeze the rest. I’ll probably just get them some basics and when it’s done it’s done

Are you feeding teenagers, primary school kids, adults? Teenagers eat a LOT.

I do make porridge for the mornings with frozen blueberries and porridge but then I’m working so I suppose they think it’s a free for all. I like those snack ideas, they do eat lots of fruit and veg. I was at a friends house and my DD said out loud wow I wish we had all these snacks. I love this house we have nothing in. I was so embarrassed. We do obviously have food but not the ‘fun’ things.

The £300 is 1 adult and three kids. One is a baby though, and included nappies, milk, wipes.

I find buying more just means they eat it quicker.

I do a strict one shop a week on the same day and when it's gone it's gone.

£300 for 10 days is ridiculous but mine would definitely eat it if it was there

Sorry so feeding DD12, and her cousin is staying with us who is nearly 12 aswell. I think it’s a combination of boredom, growing and just because it’s there

Are you clear about what is acceptable levels of consumption for non-essentials like popcorn, yoghurts, and other treat foods? Not in a Victorian restricting food way, but in a balanced diet, and what is healthy way?

Like other posters have said, make sure they are wait no enough quality protein, have things like peanut butter and cheese available as snacks, and be clear that you expect any snacky/treat foods to be eaten moderately and not to be used to make up a large part of their food intake.

I clear with my dc as to what is acceptable to fill up on, and that it can’t be endless bags of crisps etc.

@icedcoffees

Are you feeding teenagers, primary school kids, adults? Teenagers eat a LOT.

From the OP: "I’ve got two pre teens..."

Could you get in some spread, oats, flour, golden syrup, raisins and sugar and get them to make hobnobs or flapjacks if they need sugary snack food? Cheap and also gives them something to do!

I would eat bagels, crisps and snacks if they were there, but if they weren't, I wouldn't necessarily miss them, iswyim.

I agree with PP who says you need protein - cocktail sausages, packs of ham/chicken/turkey for sandwiches, boiled eggs - packs of 17p instant noodles that they can add veggies and cheese to. Buy fruit that's in season too - so not frozen berries - buy bananas, apples etc. It's much cheaper and just as healthy.

As a student, I practically lived of frozen mediterranean veg, Sainsburys' instant noodles and cheese. Filling, tasty and cheap

From the OP: "I’ve got two pre teens..."

Yes, but as she's clarified, there's also an adult and a baby being fed for the £300 - nappies, wipes etc. all add up.

I struggle with getting the food budget to last every week. Very annoying

£300 for 1 adult and three children is rather excessive, especially if it's only lasting you £10.
I'm currently feeding dd and myself, (dh is in hospital) and spend around about £100 a week (including nappies, household items and the odd takeaway) however i buy a lot of branded items so that's where the cost adds up. Are you buying a lot of brands?

I was hoping it would last three weeks so it would be £100 a week. I’m not going to buy anything for the next day 11 days but Christ do I regret spending that much.

I do buy some brands, some things I won’t compromise on but I really try not do any food waste and my freezer is full of meals

But the meat, cheese, bagels and yoghurts surely wouldn't last for 3 weeks anyway, they'd be stale and out of date.

Popcorn and crisps and nice but not at all filling for pre-teens so I'd ditch buying those.

12 year olds are practically teenagers - and if girls then hitting puberty, so that can't be helping! I did think "preteen" was more like an 8 year old, but a 12 year old girl would average needing almost 2200 calories a day according to the NHS website. So definitely into the bottomless pit phase of things combined with bored as you identified.

Having them bake their own snacks is a good suggestion! And for more protein filling options, beans and lentils are cheap healthy & filling. It's not difficult to make hummus from a tin of chickpeas so they should be able to make that themselves for a lunch/snack to have with veg sticks or crackers or whatever. Or you can wash off chickpeas, drizzle with oil and spices and whack them on a baking tray to roast as savoury snacky option.

Do they eat tinned fish? Tinned sardines are cheap and we used to have them on toast as a light lunch, could serve as a snack and it can be difficult to get the recommended oily fish into your diet. Or get them trying that tiktok baked pasta crisp recipe for further DIY snacking projects.

@jgjgjgjgjg

But the meat, cheese, bagels and yoghurts surely wouldn't last for 3 weeks anyway, they'd be stale and out of date.

Popcorn and crisps and nice but not at all filling for pre-teens so I'd ditch buying those.

Bagels go in the freezer and cheese and yogurts last for months and months if unopened.

OK, I have 2 teenagers and I feel your pain.

First rule - don't buy more of anything and expect it to last. With teenagers, nothing lasts!
Second rule - only buy limited amounts of expensive and branded stuff. Do buy copious amounts of cheap, easy basics for snacks e.g crumpets or toast and jam or peanut butter/own brand instant noodles, in season fruit (things like nectarines/plums/apricots are cheap right now), pasta and pesto, cheap sausage rolls, cheap cereal, milk and nesquik etc.
Third rule - if you don't want the children to eat it, keep it out of their sight!

I bought a pack of pop tarts for the teens as treat yesterday. Today I took the empty packet out of the cupboard and put it in the recycling, and reminded myself why I don't buy them very often!

I can guarantee you that if I spent £300 on branded treat food, the children would be on it like a plague of locusts, and there'd be nothing left in this house either after a week or so!

OP seems to be saying there are
1 adult
1 baby
3 kids age 9-12 (2 her own children + a cousin)
the shop included nappies & wipes

10 days, 5 people, £300 -> £6/day each. Doesn't seem outrageous to me.

@Selfishnelv

Sorry so feeding DD12, and her cousin is staying with us who is nearly 12 aswell. I think it’s a combination of boredom, growing and just because it’s there

If you're feeding four people and have bought £300 worth of food, that's £30 per day which is £7.50 per person - so roughly £2.50 per person, per meal. I don't think that's especially outrageous if you're all home all day and eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks - especially if you're also including toiletries, cleaning products, nappies and wipes.